Christopher J. VitaleDirector of bands

Christopher J. Vitale holds a Bachelor of Music Education as well as a Masters of Music in Conducting Performance from the University of Delaware. Prior to coming to Westfield High School Mr. Vitale served as a high school band director in Fairfax County, Virginia. Mr. Vitale has an extensive background in the drum corps activity spanning over 15 years. After marching with the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps he served as an instructor or caption head with the Crossmen, Jersey Surf, Hawthorne Caballeros, and the Reading Buccaneers. Mr. Vitale is an active visual designer for high school bands in Delaware, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

As the Director of Bands at Westfield High School, Mr. Vitale oversees ten Performing Ensembles including three concert bands, three jazz ensembles, two percussion ensembles, an indoor color guard, and the award winning Marching Blue Devils. Enrollment in the WHS Bands has doubled since his arrival in 2011. Under his direction, the WHS Bands have consistently received superior ratings and top honors at regional and state festivals. The Wind Ensemble has received a Gold Rating at the New Jersey Region Concert Band Festival every year since his arrival in 2011 and received their first-ever invitation to the New Jersey State Band Gala in 2017. The Westfield Wind Ensemble has given performances at New York City's Avery Fisher Hall and Philadelphia's Kimmel Center. In 2014 the WHS Bands gave a performance tour of Austria and the Czech Republic and in 2018 they will give a performance tour of Italy. The WHS Marching Band was the 2015 USBands Group 5A Northeast Regional and National Champions.

Mr. Vitale was selected as the 2016 PTSO Westfield High School Teacher of the Year. Beginning in the 2016/17 school year he will serve as the Central Jersey Music Educators High School Band Chair and he is also a member of the NJMEA All-State Procedures Committee. Mr. Vitale's professional affiliations include the National Band Association, the National Association For Music Education, the New Jersey Music Educators Association, and the Central Jersey Music Educators Association.

Trevor SindorfBand director

Originally from Lancaster, PA, Mr. Sindorf graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Delaware in 2009 with a B.M. in Music Education, and in 2011 with a M.M. in Conducting. As an undergraduate, he served as a drum major of the 330 member Fightin’ Blue Hen Marching Band for three years, earning both the Snyder and DeLoache Awards for Band Leadership. He held principal trumpet positions with the University’s Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra and played regularly with the Jazz Ensembles. After college, Mr. Sindorf spent three years as the band director at Montville High School (CT).

Mr. Sindorf is currently a band director at Westfield High School (NJ) where he leads the 9th Grade Concert Band, coordinates the percussion program, directs two jazz bands, and serves as the wind arranger/co-director of the Marching Blue Devils. He has a strong background in the marching arts, having performed with the 2008 DCI Finalist Carolina Crown and as drum major of the 2009 DCA Champion Reading Buccaneers. He continued his involvement in drum corps for several years as a visual instructor with The Jersey Surf and The Reading Buccaneers.

Over the summer, Mr. Sindorf is a lead clinician for the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy. He has instructed thousands of high school and college drum majors across the country in conducting, leadership and communication techniques over the last 12 years.

blue devil band staff

Our team of veteran educators and designers brings 100+ years of combined experience in the activity.